An Adirondacks Youth Musical Version of Pride and Prejudice

Upstate New York can now lay claim to being the birthplace of not one but two musical versions of Pride and Prejudice! The "Bake and Jake" version--Pride and Prejudice: A Musical, by Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs of Rochester--has distinguished itself in New York City and is well known to many Upstate Janeites. But here now is a second one, which will receive its world premiere in the Adirondacks next month. North Country residents and vacationers, mark your calendars for August 10-11! 

Here is the press release about this version as we received it from director and librettist Kathleen Recchia: 

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KEENE VALLEY, NY—This year marks the 200^th anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice” so what could be more appropriate than the production of a new musical adapted from her classic novel.

Kathleen Recchia of Jay (who has portrayed poet Emily Dickinson throughout the North Country) has been working on this musical for about six years but it wasn’t until the subject matter captured the interest of her musician-son Sam that the project zoomed into high gear and became a reality. Ms. Recchia has written all the lyrics and some of the melodies, but, as she says, “I’m just a plunker. I’ve never taken any music theory course and don’t follow any musical rules. So I needed someone (in this case, my son) to make music out of all this.”

Other musicians have offered guidance, tips and some sort of framework along the way, but it is recent Keene Central School graduate, Sam Balzac, who has put it all together including overture, scene change music, and orchestration.

The play will be produced through the Book & Blanket Players Youth Theatre sponsored by East Branch Friends of the Arts. It will be performed on Sat., August 10 at 7 PM and Sun., August 11 at 3 PM, following a week-long intensive theatre workshop at Keene Central School in Keene Valley.

Recchia has directed these Iron-Man (put-it-together-in-a-week) musicals with the kids before including an original musical that she and her son wrote called “Road to Dannemora.” But she is concerned that this year will be even more challenging. She says, “I’ve left much of Jane Austen’s language intact because I love it so. But it will be like teaching the kids Shakespeare. ”

Can it be done in just a week? She answers, “Folks will have to come and see for themselves. I’m optimistic that the kids will pull it off. Many of them are Jane Austen devotees, including our 10-year-old Mr. Bennet who has seen every screen adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” that has been produced and who has very strong feelings about his likes and dislikes.”

The cast of this original musical production of “Pride and Prejudice” consists of 27 students ranging in age from 8 to 18. Recchia’s son, composer Sam Balzac (who is also assistant directing) will take on the role of Mr. Darcy. Jessica Kemp of Saranac Lake is Elizabeth Bennet. The kids are primarily from the North Country but there are even students from the Catskills, Long Island, and Massachusetts, coming to join the North Country cast.

The performances are free but donations will be accepted to help defray costs.

For reservations or to learn more about the musical “Pride and Prejudice,” call 518-946-8323 and check out the Facebook page: Book & Blanket Players.

Now's a Great Time to Join JASNA!

If you’re a "friend of Jane Austen" but are not presently a member of JASNA at the national level, here’s a reminder that now is a great time to join (or rejoin) JASNA! The JASNA membership year officially runs from September 1 to August 31--but if you join between July 1 and August 31, you'll receive an extra issue of JASNA News (the Society's thrice-annual newsletter) and otherwise be enrolled through September 1, 2014. The benefits of national membership include not only JASNA News, but Persuasions (JASNA's annual hard-copy journal); the opportunity to attend JASNA's Annual General Meeting (AGM), possibly the best Jane Austen party on Planet Earth, in a different North American city each year; the chance to go on JASNA's annual tour of England, with access to JA-related sites and artifacts (such as the British Library's entire holding of JA manuscripts) that ordinary Austen-oriented tours don't offer; and the fellowship of almost 5,000 JASNA members in 70 regional chapters across the U.S. and Canada.

To join JASNA, or to find out more about joining, you can go to the JASNA national website's "Membership" section.  Remember that joining JASNA at the national level automatically makes you a member of the JASNA Syracuse Region--this is our one and only regional membership requirement at present.  So join JASNA today and let the world know you're a Janeite!

(NB: Current JASNA members in good standing will receive a reminder note from JASNA national about renewing their memberships, on or about September 1.)

A New Jane Austen Book Club in Ithaca

The response to our JASNA Syracuse meeting at Buffalo Street Books (BSB) in Ithaca in March was so positive that some of the attendees are organizing a Jane Austen Book Club of Ithaca, which will also meet at BSB (located in the DeWitt Mall just north of the Commons). JASNA Syracuse will have the same friendly relationship with the JABC of Ithaca as it has had with the JABC at the Colgate Bookstore in Hamilton: Membership in both groups is encouraged, and there will be at least one JASNA-JABC joint meeting (probably in March 2014). The first JABC-Ithaca meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 17, at 6:30 pm at BSB, with Sense and Sensibility as the topic. (An especially intriguing note: Costume is optional!)

Photos from the War of 1812 Bicentennial and Jane Austen Weekend

Your Regional Coordinator and her Regency Beau were present at the Genesee Country Village and Museum in Mumford for the first day of the War of 1812 Bicentennial and Jane Austen Weekend. Saturday's events proved most enjoyable, though the weather was uncomfortably warm. But if we were warm, this young man working the bellows in the village blacksmith shop was even warmer. (All photos in this post are by the Regency Beau, Edward R. Voytovich.)

However, this fine cockerel not only was undeterred by heat, but believed himself to be the equal of any uniformed human male in the village!

"What dreadful Hot weather we have! It keeps one in a continual state of Inelegance." (JA to Cassandra, 18 September 1796.) Nevertheless, the three JASNA readers in the attempted "mini-marathon" reading of Pride and Prejudice did their best to combat it. From left, A. Marie Sprayberry of the Syracuse Region, and Chris and Sharon Cassidy of the Rochester Region, practice the not-so-subtle art of the fan.

The three JASNA representatives were joined in the reading by one audience volunteer, Angela of Binghamton.

Believe it or not, this redcoated military band represented an American rather than a British regiment. (One can't help wondering whether this led to some confusion on the field of battle.)

Captain Eric Borresen and friend, however, were unambiguously American officers.

Syracuse/Rochester Co-RC Lisa Brown--who is also an enthusiastic English Country Dancer and caller, as we know--introduced the Country Dancers of Rochester demonstration team.

And the dancers delighted the audience with "The Duke of Kent's Waltz," "Shrewsbury Lasses," and other ECD favorites. ("Shrewsbury Lasses" is familiar to viewers of the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice as the dance where Elizabeth is forced to shout, "Other way, Mr. Collins!"--but there was no need for that here!)

More June News and Announcements

First, it may have been a dreary day in Central New York yesterday, but those of us present at the Colgate Bookstore for Jack Wang's presentation on the Cozy Classics series of children's books had a delightful time! Jack gave us an engaging description of how the series came to be; how he and his twin brother, Holman, go about selecting the best twelve words for each book for very young readers; and how the brothers painstakingly construct the wonderful felted figures for illustrations. (Unfortunately for all those of us who are in love with the muddy Elizabeth Bennet on the cover of the Cozy Classics Pride and Prejudice, mass reproductions are simply not feasible!) Here, Jack gives us a sneak peek at one of the images from the Cozy Classics Emma, to be published late this year (following Jane Eyre and Oliver Twist). Click on the photo for a better view of Emma yanking Harriet Smith away (none too gently) from Robert Martin. If you're intrigued, go posthaste to the Cozy Classics website to learn more!

Second, Volume 34 of Persuasions--JASNA's annual peer-reviewed, hard-copy journal--has been sent out to members. This volume contains transcripts of Anna Quindlen's and Cornel West's plenary lectures at the 2012 AGM in Brooklyn; several papers based on Brooklyn breakout sessions; and a most interesting Miscellany section, including another paper on Pride and Prejudice by Rochester's Leo Rockas, plus a review by Deborah Kaplan of the controversy surrounding the portrait owned by Paula Byrne that may--or may not--depict JA. If you're a JASNA national member and have not yet received your copy, please contact A. Marie Sprayberry (see "Contact Us" at right).

Third, don't forget about the War of 1812 Bicentennial and Jane Austen Weekend, coming up on June 22-23 at the Genesee Country Village and Museum in Mumford (west of Rochester). See the May 26 post for details.

Last but by no means least, another exciting weekend event is in store: Our sister Region to the east, the New York Capital Region (serving Albany, Saratoga Springs, and environs), is hosting its Second Annual Retreat at the Wiawaka Holiday House in Lake George on Sunday-Monday, June 30-July 1. This year's topic will be Persuasion--and our own Co-RC Lisa Brown, Royal Navy expert extraordinaire, will be giving two of the three formal presentations! Also on the schedule are a viewing of the 1995 film version of Persuasion, as well as informal discussions and a concluding picnic tea. The registration fee is $15 for JASNA members and $25 for non-members; this does not include lodging and meals (go to the Wiawaka website for information about reservations and costs). For more information about the Retreat, please contact the Capital Region's RC, Pat Friesen, at mcfriesen2 at gmail.com.

P.S. And this just in: The JASNA Minnesota Region has just announced that electronic registration for this year's Annual General Meeting--"Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice...Timeless," to be held at the Hilton Minneapolis on September 27-29--will open on Wednesday, June 12, at noon CDT (1 pm EDT). Go to this link for details. Hard-copy registration materials have already been mailed to all JASNA members who have not waived receiving a printed brochure. AGMs always fill up quickly, so if you intend to go, do not dawdle on Wednesday (or whenever you receive the hard copy)!

"Box Hill East" and "Box Hill West": Upstate Janeite Events in June

Two delightful events await Upstate NY Janeites in June! 

First, the Colgate Bookstore, the Jane Austen Book Club-CNY that meets at the Bookstore, and the JASNA Syracuse Region will co-host a presentation called "Pride, Prejudice, and Picture Books: Adapting Classic Novels for a Young Audience" on Saturday, June 8, at 2 pm at the Bookstore (3 Utica Street, Hamilton). Author Jack Wang will talk about the Cozy Classics book series he has developed with his brother, Holman, to present well-loved stories to young children in 12 words or less. (Jack has even promised us a "sneak preview" of the Cozy Classics Emma, to be published this fall!) The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided. More details about Jack and the books are available at the Bookstore's webpage for the event. We do hope you can join us for this very special presentation! If you can attend, please drop an RSVP email to Regional Coordinator A. Marie Sprayberry (see "Contact Us" at right) by June 4; no need to email with regrets.

By way of making the day in Hamilton even more of a "Box Hill East" than it already is, Marie also proposes that anyone who wishes to get together for an entirely informal and optional lunch should meet her by the gazebo in the Hamilton Village Green (which is the briefest of walks from the Bookstore) at noon. (Free parking is available at the village lot east of the Green, next to the police station.) If the weather is fine, we can either bring our own lunches or purchase them from vendors at the Hamilton Farmers' Market, and eat on the Green. If wet weather threatens or prevails, we can adjourn to a nearby restaurant (options include the Colgate Inn, Hamilton Whole Foods, La Iguana [Mexican], the Royal Indian Grill, Nichols and Beal, etc.). And even if you can't make the lunch, rest assured that we will all have a chance to meet and mingle after Jack's presentation. 

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Now for "Box Hill West": Members of JASNA Rochester are preparing for the War of 1812 Bicentennial and Jane Austen Weekend, to be held at the Genesee Country Village and Museum in Mumford (west of Rochester) on Saturday and Sunday, June 22-23, from 10 am to 4 pm. The usual GCV&M admission charges apply for this event (see the museum's webpage for the weekend for details). 

 Space doesn't permit a detailed listing of the various drills, demonstrations, and other military events, but rest assured that both soldiers and sailors will be present (both Lydia Bennet and Louisa Musgrove would be in seventh heaven!). JA-specific events include the following (on both days; times are subject to change):

• Noon-4 pm: A marathon reading of Pride and Prejudice. 
• 12:30 pm: Jane Austen Era Fashion Show.
• 3 pm: Jane Austen Era Dance Demonstration by the Country Dancers of Rochester.

  

  Demonstration of  English Country Dancing at last year's event.

 And on Saturday night from 6 to 9 pm, the "Netherfield Ball of 1813" will take place in the GCV&M's John L. Wehle Gallery. The Ball has been specially planned for beginning dancers (so don't be shy!), and the Ball admission charge of $25 includes refreshments. Advance registration is required for this by May 31, but places are still available (go here for the details). 

So get out your "summer finery" for these "summer engagements," and we hope to see you at one or the other!

JASNA Syracuse May Day Meeting in Binghamton, Sat., May 11, 2 pm

Our JASNA Syracuse May Day meeting (a trifle delayed to avoid a conflict with the Rochester Jane Austen Ball) will be held at RiverRead Books, 5 Court Street, Binghamton, on Saturday, May 11, at 2 pm.

 Our topic at RiverRead will be "Pride and Prejudice: Free for All." In this, our final meeting about P&P during its 200th-anniversary year, you're invited to bring topics of your own choice for discussion. Certainly there exist as many opinions about this novel as there are editions and covers of it! (A small sampling of these is depicted above, and Austen scholar Janine Barchas has presented a fascinating slideshow of covers and comments on The New York Times online.)

Issues such as the comparative merits of Mr. versus Mrs. Bennet; the pros and cons of the Collins-Lucas marriage; the various financial questions raised in the novel; and the possible future turns in the Darcy-Bennet marriage have been known to occupy Janeites for hours--and the RiverRead attendees are no slouches when it comes to lively discussion! So, once more, we encourage you to come "have [your] share of the conversation" about the novel Jane Austen called her "own darling Child."